“Grabbing Jeremy's lapels, Nick pulled him closer, grasping him not with fingers but with claws. His face inches away from Jeremy's, his eyes burning red, his fangs sharp and gleaming, he screamed, "BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE! NO ONE THREATENS WHAT'S MINE AND WALKS AWAY!" His growl rumbled through the room, ratcheting down into the subsonic. "I WILL BURN DOWN WHOLE ARMIES BEFORE I LET THEM TAKE YOU FROM ME!"..."Jesus, big brother," said Toby. "I know vampires are territorial when it comes to their mates, but you're way out in front for the possessive macho bullshit award."Nick sighed. "I know. I've got to work on that.”

“Mortals die, Nick. It's what they do." Lorcan's eyes bored into him. "To attach yourself to them is to watch them grow old and feeble while you remain forever young. You will see their love turn to envy, then to resentment, then hatred, as they are forced to confront their own mortality reflected in your eyes.”

“I am a Child of the Twilight. I hold the line against the Darkness, from the setting of the sun to the dawning of a new day. I live for the Light, I die for the Light. My eyes are open, and I am not afraid.”

“Stay away from me, Nick." She held out a hand to hold him off. He grabbed her arm and pulled her against his chest. "I can't," he said softly.”

“Nick looked for his coat on the rack.I snagged mine and shrugged it on without stopping.I swung open the front door of the restaurant.The frigid night wind blew snow into my eyes."Hayden," Nick called me."Close the door," hollered the couples in the booths nearest us.I let go of the door handle, then turned to Nick in the warm room. When he just stood there,staring down at me,I walked back to him."On second thought,"he said, "I don't know about this."I was not going to get dissed again.I said brightly, "Oh,don't be scared.It's easy!" I jerked his puffy parka down from the rack and held it open for him. "Try one arm at a time."Glaring at me,he took the coat and shrugged it on. "Close the door!" shouted the couples around us as we walked outside.”

“Shut up. Take down your pants. I'm going to mark you as mine."Nick squeaked and held onto his belt, fighting Damian for possession of it. "Here? Everyone will hear. They'll know!""I want them to know," Damian said, winning the wrestling match for the belt as was inevitable that he would."London!" Nick gasped. "London!"Damian stopped, his eyes clearing as he noticed how terrified Nick looked. After a long minute, he pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean to scare you. I thought you'd like it.”

“I let out a huff and forced a smile. “You’re a vampire.”I stated. Dean tilted his chin up and smiled. “I have no fangs.” He said through his teeth. I examined the glistening white canines. They werenormal, just like mine. “You retract them when you don’tneed them.” I said. Dean moved across the table and put his face up to mine. His mouth was a torturous breath away from myown. “Then why haven’t I sucked your blood Lina?” He whispered right before pressing his soft lips against mine. Then he inched towards my neck and lingered his lips onmy pulse. His soft breathing tickled my skin and triggereda chill that shot up my spine. My blood jumped to a rushand began to throb for him. If he were a vampire, I swearI’d let him suck me. “Why aren’t I biting you right now?” He whispered. It took everything I had in me not to meltinto the seat and land as a puddle on the ground.-Mindy-”